Marrying Oriental and Western Traditions

22 October 2019

The Kaikyo Distillery (named after the Akashi-Kaikyo bridge that lies at the foot of the distillery) is located near Akashi, a city located in southern Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan, on the Seto Inland Sea west of Kobe. New to our shelves this month, their 135 East Gin marries Oriental and Western traditions in a harmonious manner both in the gin and on the label which shows...

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Spooky Spirits and Ciders

21 October 2019

Halloween is just a few weeks away, and with the festival gaining massive popularity in recent years, turning into one of the UK's biggest cultural and commercial events, why not prepare and get into the mood with these spooky spirits and ciders? Dead Man's Fingers from Cornwall rebel against the norm. Feeling suitably liberated from the tyranny of convention, a spiced rum was born. Delicious sipped...

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Produced in Lembeek

18 October 2019

Brouwerj Boon, or Boon Brewery, is a lambic brewery located in Lembeek, producing a wide range of lambic, a type of beer brewed in the Pajottenland region of Belgium. The brewery began in 1978 when founder Frank Boon purchased the De Vits brewery. He had been receiving deliveries of the lambic from this brewery for a local youth club he belonged to, which is...

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To celebrate all that is good about England!

17 October 2019

To celebrate all that is good about England, Hogs Back Brewery brew their England's Glory cask ale. Hogs Back is a small family-owned brewery tucked away in the village of Tongham, in the heart of the old Surrey hop-growing region. They've been brewing since 1992 on the 18th century farm with a real passion for what they do...

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Stepping into rum...

16 October 2019

Launched to the market on 19th September, Gorilla Spirits have stepped gracefully into the world of rum. Designed predominantly for mixology Karisimbi Spiced Rum is a complex blend of aged and unaged rums from a variety of different rum distilleries. Spiced with vanilla, blood orange, ginger and cinnamon it is quite simply delicious. A versatile rum, add a dash of...

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Authentically Swartland

15 October 2019

Nestled in the picturesque Riebeek Valley, in the heart of the Swartland region, you'll find rolling slopes of vineyards that thrive in rugged, untamed beauty. These vineyards are the legacy of generations that have nurtured these vines through tough, dry-land conditions. Established in 1941, Riebeek Wine Valley Co. has always been authentically Wine of Origin Swartland. They have a passion for this unique landscape and for...

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New mix. New Beat.

14 October 2019

With the recent Espresso Martini phenomenon in the UK, Jagermeister have stepped into the world of deluxe coffee drinks with their launch of Jagermeister Cold Brew Coffee. This delicious development is the renowned Jagermiester blend of 56 herbs and spices with a cold-brewed blend of Arabica cofee and a hint of cacao - allowing for this drinks giant to...

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Bringing Charismatic Spirits to the People

09 October 2019

BrewDog Distilling Co brings honest and charismatic spirits to the people. They are obsessed with quality and make their own base spirit, distilling from scratch to their own fanatical standards in their Aberdeenshire distillery. A gin with bite, their LoneWolf Cloudy Lemon Gin, new to our shelves this month, is a haze of gin and sharp citrus. Ruled by the full moon, their gin is...

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Premium Craft Quality

08 October 2019

The team at Hop and Hemp Brewery love beer. Sometimes maybe a little too much. That's why they made it their mission to create brews that have all the big flavours of the best craft beer, without leaving you with a sore head at your 9am meeting, or losing yet another Sunday. With only 0.5% alcohol, their beers are lower in calories, whilst the...

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You are invited to our Trade Day in Oxford!

07 October 2019

We're excited to announce that our next Trade Day will be in Oxford on Wednesday 23rd October - 12-4pm. Our last Trade event before the end of the year! Join us for a relaxed, intimate afternoon. The chance to meet, chat to and taste some of the newest and most innovative drinks in the industry. Think low/no alcohol, spritz, for...

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Soft Drinks Buyer's Pick this Month...Folkington's Tonics

06 October 2019

Kate, our Soft Drinks buyer's pick of the month is a range of tonics from Folkington's. Folkington' swas founded in 2012 by Paul Bendit after 12 years of developing premium and innovative soft drinks. Each Folkington's drink is made from produce sourced from the same farmers, or farming co-operatives, which helps to deliver a consistent taste and quality. To keep the...

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Designed to Complement Rum

04 October 2019

Fentimans, the botanically brewed drinks maker which was established in 1905 has added a new fun mixer to its award-winning range. Tropical Soda, made with pineapple and a subtle hint of cardamom, has been designed specifically to complement rum and was developed by a panel of European bartenders known as the Fentiman's Botanical Collective in collaboration with the Fentiman's flavour team. New to our shelves...

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Beers Buyer's Pick of the Month...

03 October 2019

Michael, our Beers and Ciders buyer's pick of the month is a lager from Big Smoke Brewery. Big Smoke Brewery are a young brewery producing modern beer styles in the leafy suburbs of Esher in Surrey. They brew hop forward pales, rich stouts and everything inbetween. New to our shelves this month is their Helles Lager in cans. Crisp, dry and...

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Looking for a New Adventure...

02 October 2019

Norfolk Gin begun in 2014. Founder Jonathan was looking for a new adventure and began making gin on a small scale at home. After some 18 months of development and experimentation, resulting in gins varied from awful to okay to rather good and he arrived at the now excellent Norfolk Gin. Jonathan decided to place his gin in a ceramic...

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Inspired by Heritage

01 October 2019

Since 2010,Edinburgh Gin has been committed to the art and science of distilling, and of creating innovative, award-winning gins. Based in Scotland's capital city, the team are ever-inspired by its gin-making heritage, and of its position as a global light; a home to scientists, artists, philosophers and inventors. As a small-batch distiller, Edinburgh Gin produce a dynamic range of gins for every occasion, and we they're dedicated...

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A Uniquely Australian Whisky

27 September 2019

Founder David Vitale started off with a simple vision; to create a uniquely Australian whisky they could offer the world with pride. Born and bred in Melbourne, he was inspired to create a spirit that reflects his home town - from its culture to it's famed 'four seasons in a day' temperature swings. It is a city surrounded by some of Australia's leading...

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What to drink when your customers don't feel like drinking alcohol...

26 September 2019

What to drink when your customer doesn't feel like drinking... Jarr Kombucha is a fantastic adult alternative and its good for your gut! Kombucha is a delicious dose of goodness. It's low in sugar and rich in beneficial acids, enzymes and antioxidants. It also has the potential to sway wine drinkers and cocktail devotees as it does craft beer lovers and teetotal drinkers! Deliciously tart and fruity, Jarr...

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Can you taste the difference?

26 September 2019

The boom in low and non-alcoholic drinks is a trend that's here to stay, firmly embedding itself in the minds of consumers who are actively seeking healthier and interesting alternatives to alcohol, whilst still demanding flavoursome drinks (and rightly so). As one of the best non-alcoholic beers we've tasted in the office, Brutal Brewing's Ship Full of IPA 0.0% is a show stopper. This Swedish 0.0%...

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Love of Gin and Salcombe

24 September 2019

In 1995, Salcombe Distillery's co-founders Angus and Howard first met whilst working as sailing instructors at the Island Cruising Club and begin their ritual of a sundowner gin and tonic at Salcombe Yacht Club, overlooking the estuary as a regular way to conclude the days sailing. After pursuing successful careers elsewhere, Angus and Howard found themselves back in Devon at 2014, and meet up...

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Rugby World Cup Beer Picks

19 September 2019

The 2019 Rugby World Cup kicked off today, the 20th September. Whatever colours your customers fly and whichever team you support, here's a few picks for the games ahead... As the tournament hosts this time are Japan, why not try Asahi Super Dry? When it was introduced it brought an entirely new genre of beer to Japan, and then to the world....

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Spirits Buyer's Pick of the Month...Baharat Gin

17 September 2019

Carlyn, our Spirits buyer's pick of the month is an exotic gin from the Cotswolds Distillery. Set in the beautiful Cotswolds countryside, the team at the Cotswolds Distillery have been producing outstanding natural spirits since 2014. New to our shelves this month is their Baharat Gin. This sumptuous small batch gin will take your taste buds on a journey through the...

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Just like the Original

16 September 2019

Many years in the making, Lyre's exquisite range of lovingly crafted, alcohol-free classic spirits was borne from a quest to make the impossible possible. To provide an alternative to those who don't wish to imbibe alcohol, but still wish to enjoy the mirth and merriment of a social evening. But this isn't just any alternative. Every Lyre's spirit looks, tastes and sashays around the palate just...

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Softs Buyer's Pick this Week...Longbottom & Co

11 September 2019

Kate, our Soft Drinks buyer's pick of the month is a mixer from Longbottom & Co. Longbottom & Co set out to craft a modern classic that's refined, complex and packs a punch. The story originally began in 1988 when founders Ed and Greg met at school. They became fed up of how bloody difficult it as to find a...

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Mixologist's Diary - The Bootlegger Family

Prohibition is over! 29,307 days after prohibition ended, The Bootlegger Family opened their doors in their first bar on Gloucester Road in Bristol. Since then the family have carried on its journey heading west, opening its doors at the top of Womanby Street in Cardiff, back to where the minds who conceived the idea grew up. This month we...

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Beers Pick of the Month...Gorgeous Brewery

05 September 2019

Michael, our Beer and Ciders buyer's pick of the month is the range from Gorgeous Brewery. Gorgeous Brewery is an independent, family run craft brewery based in London, it's a total find. Gorgeous Brewery has an eclectic, deliciously drinkable range with an emphasis on hand-crafted quality. The brewery works with little automation, so a whole lot of care and hard...

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Authenticity and Provenance

04 September 2019

Folkington's was founded in 2012 by Paul Bendit after 12 years of developing premium and innovative soft drinks for leaders. The ambition in creating the Folkington's brand was to replicate the authenticity and provenance that stand behind fine wines ("terroir") into a range of fruit juices and soft drinks. So every year, each Folkington's product is made from the same varieties of fruit sourced...

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Mixologist's Diary - Paul Minea, The Leafy Elephant

Founded in 2019 by the Duncan and his family, with aspirations of replicating the luxurious bars of Mayfair, London, The Leafy Elephant is a stunning new bar in Wokingham that is definitely "more than a pub!" With over 200 gins on their impressive back bar, this purpose built venue is all about the luscious experience (and it's not...

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Mixologist's Diary - Jonathan Benoliel, Vermuteria

26 June 2019

Vermuteria, next door to Kings Cross, is an all-day café and bar serving creative food and drinks inspired by the origins of Vermouth distilling, established during the 18th Century in the city of Turin, and the great Vermouth bars of Italy and beyond. This month's mixologist is Vermuteria's Head Barman, Jonathan Benoliel. A man who loves learning and is a...

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Behind the Scenes... Nigel picks an order!

14 May 2019

Our MD is on a quest, a journey to understand each area of our Nectar operation better. Recently, Nigel joined our Warehouse Manager Rich out on the floor to learn what happens when an order is picked and wrapped ready for delivery next day... he may well have picked your order! Why not grab a drink and watch this...

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GABOR MOLNAR... The Pig Hotel

16 April 2019

As they say, a dilapidated and overgrown walled kitchen garden, tucked away in the grounds of a tired country house hotel in the New Forest has a lot to answer for... and since 2011, this has led the way to inform everything The Pig does in the kitchen and mixology. For this Mixologist's Diary feature we caught up with...

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Meet the Producer... Rupert, Conker Spirits

24 April 2019

Conker Spirits began life as Rupert's dream to get out of the big smoke, today his range includes three delicious gins and a stunning cold brew coffee liqueur, all distilled in their Dorset distillery. Fast-forward 6 years, and it's clear the leap of faith was worth it. Meet Rupert in this short video as he (re) introduces his range to...

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Meet Alex, co-founder of Long Tail Mixers

25 March 2019

With a new selection of innovative drinks to our portfolio this spring, we invited a handful of our suppliers into HQ so our teams could meet them, understand more and taste their new drinks. Alex from Long Tail Mixers chatted to us about the experience and how Long Tail came about! Meet Alex in this short video and discover dark...

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Will Price, Mugshot

13 December 2018

Our Mixologist's Diary is back, and this edition we headed to bustling Brizzle to chat about two of our favourite topics - food and (of course) drink with Will Price from Mugshot as he prepares for the Christmas onslaught. If you've not been to Bristol in the last year you've missed this fantastic independent restaurant and bar with a...

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Mixologist Diary - Circo Bar

12 November 2018

Nestled within the cobbled streets of Bath, is an underground bar that offers a chic blend of the old and new; whilst fun takes centre stage in their mixology ethos. Circo Bar has one of the most extensive back bars, with a stunning array of cocktails on offer, as well as a comprehensive champagne, wine and spirits list, served...

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CAT DUERR, RAOULS BAR

With summer beaming at us from all angles, we chatted all things rum with Cat from Raoul's bar and caught up on what they're doing in Oxford, as part of our mixologist's diary. Established in 1979, Raoul's Bar and liquor store is a space for Cat and the team to create. This is where their passion for mixology...

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Gary Whiter, The Cabinet Rooms

It's common knowledge that the UK is enjoying a gin revival, with an unprecedented array of craft gins launching in the marketplace, since Sipsmiths sparked important changes in the world of distillation back in 2009. Around that time, Gary Whiter was about to embark on a Martini masterclass aboard the Queen Mary 2, while en route to New York. His...

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LLOYD BROWN, THE GREY BEAR BAR CO

This month we'd like you to meet Lloyd Brown, who heads up the Grey Bear Bar company, a bar consultancy and training company as well as being brand ambassador and distiller for Porters Perfection vodka (he's a busy man!). Having worked with us closely for nearly a decade, and previously run the Venner Bar at The Bull Hotel in Bridport...

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Elliott Skehel, Lab 22

In the heart of Cardiff is Lab 22, a unique venue offering a truly scientific approach to your sense of mixology enjoyment. Sleek and chic yet abundant in character, Lab 22 is the place where real magic happens. A place where elements collide and senses come alive. Lab 22 encourages the extraordinary and encourages the unusual. A creative cocktail bar...

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Hannah Wainright, The Treehouse

This August we're heading over to Beaconsfield to meet Hannah Wainwright of The Treehouse and Laurie Othen who have 'talked all things tequila' with us. The Treehouse was first established in 2010 and is part of Drinkwell Bars, a small bar group in the Chilterns. The Treehouse specialises in fantastic cocktails, a proportion of which are made with products made...

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